- Ewen Jaouen not expected to be Newcastle United number one next season
- Nick Pope speculation continues to grow and Magpies will sign new number one
- Could James Trafford finally be on the cards?
With Ewen Jaouen now unveiled as a Newcastle United player after his £24.5m move from Ligue 2 club Stade Reims, there is some uncertainty around where he will fit into the goalkeeping structure.
Jaouen joins Nick Pope as the two main options in the Magpies’ senior squad, but there has been some growing speculation that Pope will be allowed to leave the club this summer.
At just 20 years old, Jaouen is not expected to be the starter on Tyneside next season, and Newcastle are reportedly looking at bringing in another goalkeeper to take up that role.
Goalkeeping departures
Of the goalkeeping cohort that was at the club last season, Mark Gillespie is the only one who has certainly retained his spot, with the Englishman being given an extra year on his deal.
Aaron Ramsdale fought with Pope throughout the season for the number one spot during his loan from Southampton but failed to really make an impact in black and white. The former Arsenal man returned to his parent club following the conclusion of the season.
Odysseas Vlachodimos spent last season on loan at Sevilla, where he was lauded for his consistently outstanding performances throughout the campaign. But the Magpies are not fond of the Greek goalkeeper and are expected to move him on during the transfer window.
That leaves Nick Pope and the newly signed Jaouen, but Pope’s growing links with both Leeds United and his hometown club Ipswich Town appear to be substantiated, and Newcastle are willing to let the shotstopper leave this summer.
The goalkeeping plan
Newcastle will need to sign another goalkeeper if Pope does leave; the question was whether that would see Jaouen become the outstanding number one option or whether he would be the back-up to a more senior name.
The latter of those is more likely, although Jaouen is expected to receive opportunities throughout the season, with the goalkeeper vocal in negotiations that he wanted to challenge for the starting spot and have a clear first-team pathway.
But Newcastle are still going to sign a number one, according to reports. The Magpies see the goalkeeping position as one that needs a major upgrade, especially given the shortcomings in that area last season.
Just how much the club are willing to spend on a new shotstopper is unclear, but the shortlist at present is largely comprised of some younger names of a similar profile to that of Jaouen.
James Trafford and Robin Risser are two of the most prominent names thought to be on the club’s radar. Both of those names would likely cost somewhere in the region of £35m, a hefty sum given the near £25m outlay already made to sign Jaouen.
Trafford appears to make the most sense at present. The England international has been touted with a move away from Man City just a year after joining the club as he seeks regular first-team football.
Newcastle have been interested in the 23-year-old for some time now and came within inches of signing him last summer before City swooped in.
Whoever comes in will have competition from Jaouen, and no matter what, if Newcastle get their way, they will end up with one of the strongest young goalkeeping cores in world football come the end of the summer window.
